LA sheriff's detective subject of internal probe

LOS ANGELES 
A Los Angeles County sheriff's detective is under investigation for allegedly having an affair with a woman whose husband he helped arrest and prosecute on charges of making criminal threats.

Phillip Solano was placed on administrative duty after the sheriff's department opened an internal probe in April, sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said.

Solano couldn't immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

The investigation began when the husband, Albert Gutierrez, 36, claimed Solano falsely accused him of making threats to his wife, Mayela Gutierrez Gil, in an attempt to hurt his chances in their divorce and custody battle. Gutierrez said the charges came as he tried regain partial custody of three daughters.

Gutierrez claimed he was arrested twice on those charges, for which he was later acquitted.

"No father should have to go through what I went through," he said.

He filed a complaint Wednesday against the county, Solano and Gutierrez Gil. He was seeking up to $2 million in damages.